For Geographic Information Systems courses held in departments of Geography or Anthropology.

Fully updated to reflect advances in GIS concepts and techniques, this text approaches the subject from the broader context of information technology. Complete, up-to-date coverage is given to the concepts and techniques pertaining to every stage of the systems development life cycle of GIS, as well as its applications to various areas of spatial problem solving and decision making. Emphasizes GIS and mainstream IT integration. Explores new spatial analysis techniques/landscape metrics. Expands discussion of geovisualization. Examines new terrain data acquisition by LiDAR. Covers emerging technology in mobile computing and location-based services.

Features

Coverage of topics that are often not adequately covered in other GIS texts - Includes the principles and practice of information resource management, information system development methodology, spatial database modeling and design, and more.

Emphasis on spatial modeling and modeling with examples of application - Shows students how to correctly use GIS to solve problems.

Full discussion on data quality and data standard.

Detailed and up-to-date references.

Two useful appendices - Includes Internet Resources and a GIS glossary.

A Summary in every chapter.

Numerous figures and diagrams.

New To This Edition

Emphasis on GIS and mainstream IT integration:

Looks at GIS from a broader IT perspective, rather than the conventional approach of focusing on learning software skills.

Offers a detailed discussion on the trend of GIS/IT integration and implications.

New spatial analysis techniques/landscape metrics - Introduces a new set of tools for those interested in environmental and ecological applications.

Expanded discussion of geovisualization, reflecting the increasing importance of this topic in GIS.

New terrain data acquisition by LiDAR - Introduces a new digital terrain data capturing system that is growing in prominence.

Coverage of emerging technology in mobile computing and location-based services - Possibly the first general GIS textbook to cover this topic.

Review questions added to each chapter.

Revisions to Website accompanying the text - Will include presentation slides to assist in teaching and learning.

For Geographic Information Systems courses held in departments of Geography or Anthropology.

Fully updated to reflect advances in GIS concepts and techniques, this text approaches the subject from the broader context of information technology. Complete, up-to-date coverage is given to the concepts and techniques pertaining to every stage of the systems development life cycle of GIS, as well as its applications to various areas of spatial problem solving and decision making. Emphasizes GIS and mainstream IT integration. Explores new spatial analysis techniques/landscape metrics. Expands discussion of geovisualization. Examines new terrain data acquisition by LiDAR. Covers emerging technology in mobile computing and location-based services.

Features

Coverage of topics that are often not adequately covered in other GIS texts - Includes the principles and practice of information resource management, information system development methodology, spatial database modeling and design, and more.

Emphasis on spatial modeling and modeling with examples of application - Shows students how to correctly use GIS to solve problems.

Full discussion on data quality and data standard.

Detailed and up-to-date references.

Two useful appendices - Includes Internet Resources and a GIS glossary.

A Summary in every chapter.

Numerous figures and diagrams.

New To This Edition

Emphasis on GIS and mainstream IT integration:

Looks at GIS from a broader IT perspective, rather than the conventional approach of focusing on learning software skills.

Offers a detailed discussion on the trend of GIS/IT integration and implications.

New spatial analysis techniques/landscape metrics - Introduces a new set of tools for those interested in environmental and ecological applications.

Expanded discussion of geovisualization, reflecting the increasing importance of this topic in GIS.

New terrain data acquisition by LiDAR - Introduces a new digital terrain data capturing system that is growing in prominence.

Coverage of emerging technology in mobile computing and location-based services - Possibly the first general GIS textbook to cover this topic.

Review questions added to each chapter.

Revisions to Website accompanying the text - Will include presentation slides to assist in teaching and learning.